What would John Wesley say about a Christian approach to climate change? What does personal piety and justice have to do with it?

Climate Action for Everyone

On Wednesday, October 12, our United Women in Faith (UWF) hosted “Climate Action for Everyone” in the Wesley Center. One of the ongoing missional priorities of UWF is climate justice. We know we must do more than recycling and composting to move towards justice, but we don’t always know what other steps to take to affect change on a larger scale. So, we invited Deaconess Irene DeMaris, the Executive Director of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, and Tamara Marcus, the Linn County Sustainability Director to offer their expertise.

Iowa Interfaith Power & Light is a faith-based non-profit that encourages and facilitates climate action from a standpoint that caring for our earth is a tenet of faith. They focus on sustainability in farming, a huge area we can and should make a difference in as a farming state. Linn County Sustainability assesses and makes plans for moving our county towards environmental sustainability into the future.

Over 40 people were in attendance, including our youth group and youth leaders. Our UWF Vice-President Genny Yarne coordinated and hosted the event. I assisted Genny in planning. UWF women provided hospitality. Both speakers shared for 15-20 minutes and then answered audience questions. A lot of good information was shared, such as recent and upcoming climate-beneficial policy and advice for getting involved in local groups. There were also invitations to volunteer for Linn County Sustainability, or attend an Iowa IPL field day and see for yourself what possibilities can take place on Iowa farms.

If you attended, what are your “highlights” or takeaways? What did you leave thinking about? What would you like to keep talking about in the church?

Reflecting on what we learned

I hope that we will continue to explore the information and opportunities brought up at this event as individuals and as a church. There are two things I want to reflect on here.

One is climate anxiety, which Deaconess Irene brought up. This is something many people, especially young people, are feeling. I know it well. A heavy weight, a sense of doom, and hopelessness because there is so much bad news and very little good news when it comes to climate. Irene’s advice was to go through it, not around it. Feel your feelings, don’t avoid them. An upcoming opportunity about this topic is the October 29th Calm in Climate Chaos: Let's Talk About Climate Anxiety, Iowa IPL’s Called to Climate Action webinar. Find out more and register here: https://iowaipl.org/2022/08/17/save-the-date-called-to-climate-action-2022/

The second thing is the Wesleyan approach to climate action, shared by Irene. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, preached piety and justice. In the context of climate, personal piety can look like recycling and composting–examples that Irene mentioned. But I take that to mean all of our personal choices. 

Think of our consumer choices: are the products we buy harming the environment, through their extraction, production, and disposal? Are people being exploited to make them or harvest them? Are we buying more than we need, and from unethical companies? 

When it’s time to replace something in our home, what about choosing the most energy friendly option, even if it costs more? Like a heat pump instead of a gas furnace? Or adding solar panels? Or planting native plants or low-maintenance “eco-grass” (like this one) instead of turf lawn? 

When we invest money, are we willing to choose ethics over profit? 

Our personal consumer choices connect to the justice side, but justice requires more than that. Climate justice starts with the acknowledgement that the climate crisis does not affect all people equally. The poorest and most vulnerable people are already being hit the hardest by climate disasters. This will only get worse. To work towards justice means that those with privilege and those from societies that contribute the most to climate change must fight against it. This is where we might find ourselves writing letters, supporting a campaign, joining a protest, and more to actively fight for justice.

What is the right thing to do?

When a question about climate anxiety was asked at the event, what came to my mind was a sermon that I heard online by Chris Hoklotubbe (Choctaw), an Assistant Professor of Religion at Cornell College in Mount Vernon. He was preaching at Sanctuary Community Church in Coralville in 2019. The title of the sermon was “It’s the End of the World as We Know It, and I Feel…”, and it was about what we are to do when the world is ending. Looking at Christians of the past who believed the end was coming in their lifetime, what did they do? The answer was, to keep doing what is right. “We never give up on beauty, never give up on justice, and never give up on goodness. The radical hope of life in light of the end of the world, in light of new creation, is that we continue to do what we are always supposed to,” he said.

“We continue on, knowing not the success of our efforts, not whether or not we will reach the promised lands, but having sure confidence that our efforts matter. That our relationships to each other matters in light of eternity. [...] We find eternal solidarity and the possibility of joy amid labor, amid the uncertainty of what lies ahead, amid the uphill battle against climate change and pollution. We know that whatever lies before us, we as the Body of Christ, interconnected with our created world, through the power and love of an all pervading Holy Spirit, can rise to meet the challenge of serving others and stewarding [God’s] created order until the very end.”

Amen.

If you’d like to continue conversations about climate action, one option is to join Be Healthy. Be Green. Committee. Contact me at stephanie.heifner@gmail.com.

Read 2 Corinthians 9:7-11

“Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart…” -2 Corinthians 9:7a

By now, you realize that this endeavor is more about faith than it is about money. Alongside others in our church family, you have spent time reflecting on how an offering as a part of Pathway to Generosity can be a sign of your faith. You have been praying, “Lord, what do you want to do through me?” Soon, you will have the opportunity to answer that question in a very tangible way by making your financial commitment to support Pathway to Generosity.

As we all prepare to make those commitments, Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians are very helpful to us as well. For those who have been reflecting and praying, there is a point at which an answer will come from the heart that just feels right. It will be a decision that is reached without guilt or coercion. It will be a level of commitment that, while perhaps stretching you out of your comfort zone, also brings a sense of peace.

The generosity that results from all of us making our decisions prayerfully will overflow in “many expressions of thanksgiving to God.” We will see the fruit of our sacrifice as we witness new ministries emerge among us because of the good work we have shared in this endeavor.

Is there any anxiety that you still need to release before you make your commitment?

Have you prayed to the point where your heart is ready to provide you with the answer?

Read Exodus 35:1-29

“All the Israelite men and women who were eager to contribute something for the work that the LORD had commanded Moses to do brought it as a spontaneous gift to the LORD.” -Exodus 35:29

Moses had just come back from Mt. Sinai, Take 2. You may remember that Take 1 hadn’t gone so well. When Moses arrived back at camp that time, he found the Israelites do-se-doing around the golden calf. This time when he comes down, he gathers them together to announce a building project of God’s choosing.

They need something tangible to help them remember God’s presence daily. After all, this is going to be a long journey through the wilderness, and they’ve already shown how quickly they can forget who got them out of Egypt in the first place. So, Moses tells them, if everyone contributes what they can, together they have the resources necessary to construct the project. The words in Exodus that describe the people’s response leap off the page: “All…were eager to contribute.”

In the life of every congregation, there are times when God’s people are called to come together to accomplish something significant for the sake of the kingdom. Not every person’s contributions will be the same, just as we read about that extraordinary project in the wilderness. One thing is for sure, though: the best results are produced when all the congregation participates and everyone is eager to contribute.

What do you imagine is possible if all the congregation eagerly participates in Pathway to Generosity?

Read 1 Timothy 6:17-19

“Tell them to do good, to be rich in the good things they do, to be generous, and to share with others.” -1 Timothy 6:18

There’s an old saying that goes, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Some people seem to live as if they believe this is the case. They blindly fritter away their lives pursuing, accumulating, and hoarding, only to wonder in their sunset years if any good has come of it.

More recently, an alternate version of this quote has made the rounds on bumper stickers and t-shirts: “He who dies with the most toys…still dies!” This version sounds more like the parable Jesus once told about the man who kept storing up stockpiles of supplies for himself and his family only to lose his life long before he could need or enjoy them. (Luke 12:13-21)

Today’s Scripture also cautions us about putting too much value or hope in our stuff. When it comes to our relationship to our possessions, Mother Teresa puts it this way: “What God gives you is not to be kept under lock and key, but to be shared…Let us ask God, when it comes time to ask God for something, to help us to be generous.” And when we discover the joy of giving, Paul says we will “take hold of what is truly life.”

How would you describe your relationship to your possessions?

Have you discovered the joy of generosity?

Read Luke 21:1-4

“He said, ‘I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than them all.’” -Luke 21:3

There is more to generosity than meets the eye. We have a tendency to judge generosity by the size of the gift. Viewed this way, a gift that has several zeroes at the end is more valuable than one that does not.

Certainly, we should be grateful for persons who have the capacity to make such gifts and are willing to do so. Yet, Jesus teaches us a very important lesson today. Generosity has less to do with size and more to do with sacrifice. When someone only gives what is easy or comfortable, or as the passage puts it “out of their spare change,” is that really generosity, even if the amount is large? The two small coins from the widow meant more to Jesus than all the other gifts that day because they were truly a sacrifice.

As we all imagine the future and consider how we might be a part of making God’s mission happen, sacrifice is an important concept to remember. If we offer our best rather than our leftovers, God’s blessings will surely overflow.   

Imagine Jesus, sitting in the temple, watching everyone approach the offering box. As you put yours in, does he say to himself, “spare change” or “sacrifice”?

What kind of gift would represent a sacrifice for you in this endeavor?

Read 1 Kings 17:8-16

“Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid! Go and do what you said. Only make a little loaf of bread for me first…’” -1 Kings 17:13a

One of the great paralyzers in our lives is fear. It can keep us from pursuing dreams, from building relationships, or even from following God’s call. It is also a primary road block to generosity.

In today’s story from Scripture, we learn that a little flour and oil is all the woman from Zarephath has left. She has planned to use it to prepare a final meal for herself and her son. Elijah offers an alternative. Give up what you have, and God will make sure you continue to have enough. Reading the story, we can understand how the woman would be afraid…until we realize that her original plan merely extends her life and that of her son by only one day. God has a much better plan in mind.      

There is a strong temptation for us to practice a theology of scarcity. We fear that there will not be enough, and so we hoard what we can in an attempt to feel more secure. But what do we really gain by our hoarding? Another day? Another meaningless possession? Time and time again, the Bible reminds us to have a theology of abundance. We can live with hope and confidence that God’s grace is bigger than our fears. We can give freely and even joyfully to the work of bringing the kingdom to earth as it is in heaven, trusting that everything will be okay.

Do you approach life as if there is not enough or more than enough?

If you had no fear, what would your level of participation in Pathway to Generosity look like?

How could this year represent a new opportunity for you to trust in God’s provision?

Read Acts 20:21-24

“But nothing, not even my life, is more important than my completing my mission. This is nothing other than the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus: to testify about the good news of God’s grace.” -Acts 20:24

It’s difficult to imagine the growth of the early Christian church apart from the ministry of the apostle Paul. He is the one who was captivated by a mission of taking the message of Christ out into the world. Certainly, he could not have imagined the impact he would continue to have on the church 2000 years later. His willingness to risk everything for the sake of fulfilling his mission was crucial to his success.

In some ways, the world today is more like the world Paul encountered than any time in recent history, particularly when it comes to faith. Millions of people claim no affiliation to religion and millions more have only a casual connection to faith. There is a huge opportunity in the year 2023 and beyond for the church to “testify about the good news of God’s grace” to a world filled with people who don’t know it.

What the church and the world need are risk-takers. Persons who are convinced that this good news is so important that they would be willing to risk whatever it takes to share it. There are more than many who call St. Paul’s UMC home. If every one of us becomes a risk-taker, the impact it will continue to have on this community for generations to come is beyond any of our imaginations.

Is there someone right now to whom you might share about the good news of God’s grace?

What are you willing to risk for the sake of sharing the good news? 

Read Mark 10:35-45

“…for the Human One didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to liberate many people.” -Mark 10:45

Apparently even those who have spent a lot of time with Jesus sometimes forget what it means to follow him. Maybe there is still hope for the rest of us, after all!

James and John were two of the twelve. A couple of Jesus’ closest companions. One day, though, they began to worry about their future. They had just heard Jesus say something about dying and their immediate response was to be concerned not about him but about themselves. Jesus seizes the opportunity for a teachable moment. True greatness, he tells them, is not found in power or position. Instead, it is found through serving.

Part of our discipleship pathway is serving one another. The gospel truth is that when we serve others, as much as we may be a blessing to them, we also find ourselves truly blessed. Serving connects us with the heart of Christ.

What is one way you can generously serve others?

What dream do you have for how our church can generously serve others?

Read Ephesians 4:12-16

“God’s goal is for us to become mature adults—to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ.” -Ephesians 4:13b

It’s always good to have a goal in mind. Goals give us something for which to aim. They improve performance as we strive to reach them. Goals help us stay focused on what matters most.

We often set goals for ourselves in our careers, in our families, in our finances, in music, and in sports. If we set goals in all these areas of life, doesn’t it make sense that we would set goals for ourselves in our faith? Actually, according to the letter to the Ephesians, God has already set the most important one:  for us to become mature adults. And maturity in this case takes on a very specific image…it looks like Jesus.

At the heart of St. Paul’s UMC vision is a call to participate in our Discipleship Pathway. The process of becoming more like Jesus is what growing as a disciple is all about. Just like that original band of twelve, disciples today are those who desire to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. As a congregation, when we invest resources in helping people grow, we participate in pressing on toward God’s goal for each of us to become a mature disciple. 

How are you growing as a disciple these days?

What new opportunities can you envision for growing disciples?